• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.269-275
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• 2020

Background: The advance in microsurgical technique has facilitated a proper approach for reconstruction of extensive head and neck defects. For the success of free tissue reconstruction, selection of the recipient vessel is one of the most important factors. However, the vascular anatomy of this region is very complex, and a clear guideline about this subject is still lacking. In this study, we present our 30 years of experiences of free tissue reconstruction for head and neck defects. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed a total of 138 flaps in 127 patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction using free tissue transfer following tumor resection between October 1986 to August 2019. Patients who underwent facial palsy reconstruction were excluded. Medical records including patient's demographics, detailed operation notes, follow-up records, and photographs were collected and analyzed. Results: Among a total of 127 patients, 10 patients underwent a secondary operation due to cancer recurrence. The most commonly used type of flap was radial forearm flap (n=107), followed by the anterolateral thigh flap (n=18) and fibula flap (n=10). With regard to recipient vessels, superior thyroid artery was most commonly used in arterial anastomosis (58.7%), and internal jugular vein (51.3%) was the first choice for venous anastomosis. The flap survival rate was 100%. Four cases of venous thrombosis were resolved with thrombectomy and re-anastomosis. Conclusion: Superior thyroid artery and internal jugular vein were reliable choices as recipient vessels. Proper recipient vessel selection could improve the result of head and neck reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2020

Upper limb nerve damage is a common condition, and evidence suggests that functional recovery may be limited following peripheral nerve repair in cases of delayed reconstruction or reconstruction of long nerve defects. A 26-year-old man presented with traumatic injury from a wide, blunt wound of the right forearm caused by broken glass, with soft tissue loss, complete transection of the radial and ulnar arteries, and a large median nerve gap. The patient underwent debridement and subsequent surgery with a microsurgical free radial fasciocutaneous flap to provide a direct blood supply to the hand; the cephalic vein within the flap was employed as a venous vascularized chamber to wrap the sural nerve graft and to repair the wide gap (14 cm) in the median nerve. During the postoperative period, the patient followed an intensive rehabilitation program and was monitored for functional performance over 5 years of follow-up. Our assessment demonstrated skin tropism and sufficient muscle power to act against strong resistance (M5) in the muscles previously affected by paralysis, as well as a good localization of stimuli in the median nerve region and an imperfect recovery of two-point discrimination (S3+). We propose a novel and efficient procedure to repair >10-cm peripheral nerve gap injuries related to upper limb trauma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.607-612
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• 2010

Purpose: Maxillectomy for malignant tumor resection often leads to functional and aesthetic sequalae. Reconstruction following maxillectomy has been a challenging problem in the field of head and neck cancer surgery. In this article, we described three dimensional midface reconstructions using free flaps and their functional and aesthetic outcomes. Methods: We reconstructed 35 cases of maxillectomy defects using 9 radial forearm free flaps, 7 lattisimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flaps, 6 rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flaps, 4 fibular osteocutaneous free flaps, and 9 anterolateral thigh free flaps, respectively. We classified post-maxillectomy defects by Brown's classification. 1 Articulation clarity was measured with picture consonant articulation test. Swallowing function was evaluated with the University of Washington quality-of-life Head and Neck questionnaire by 4 steps.2 Aesthetic outcomes were checked to compare preoperative with postoperative full face photographs by 5 medical doctors who did not involve in our operation. Results: The average articulation clarity was 92.4% (100-41.9%). 27 (81.9%) patients were able to eat an unrestricted diet. Aesthetic results were considered excellent in 18 patients (51.4%). Functional results were best in the group reconstructed with fibular osteocutaneous free flap. Considering the range of wide excision, aesthetic results is best in the group reconstructed with anterolateral thigh free flap. Conclusion: The free flap is a useful technique for the reconstruction of the midface leading to good results, both functionally and aesthetically. Especially, because osteocutaneous flap such as fibular osteocutaneous free flap offered bone source for osteointegrated implant, It produces the best functional results. And perforator flap like as anterolateral thigh free flap reliably provides the best aesthetic results, because it provides sufficient volume and has no postoperative volume diminution.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2015

The authors had five cases of penoplasty from more than half of the scrotum to the suprapubic region using a fasciocutaneous radial forearm free flap (RFFF) after extensive excision of sclerosing lipogranuloma. Although the harvested RFFF was a rectangular shape, the authors made the shape of scrotum, penile shaft, and suprapubic region by using well designed geometry and several quilting sutures on junction of scrotum and penis. The contour of scrotum and penis was well maintained, and there were no complications, such as scrotal contracture, penile deformity, and erectile dysfunction during the one year follow up period in all five cases. There were no recurrent lesions and no need for further surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.240-252
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• 2022

Rather than just another "review," this is intended to be an "overview" of the entire subject of the medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap as has been presented in the reconstructive literature from its inception in 2001 until the present, with any exceptions not purposefully overlooked. Unfortunately, the pertinent anatomy of the MSAP flap is always anomalous like most other perforator flaps, and perhaps even more variable. No schematic exists to facilitate the identification of a dominant musculocutaneous perforator about which to design the flap, so some adjunctive technology may be highly valuable for this task. However, if a relatively thin free flap is desirable for a small or moderate sized defect that requires a long pedicle with larger caliber vessels, the MSAP flap deserves consideration. Indeed, for many, this has replaced the radial forearm flap such as for partial tongue reconstruction. Most consider the donor site deformity, even if only a conspicuous scar on the calf, to be a contraindication. Yet certainly if used as a local flap for the knee, popliteal fossa, or proximal leg, or as a free flap for the ipsilateral lower extremity where a significant recipient site deformity already exists, can anyone really object that this is not a legitimate indication? As with any perforator flap, advantages and disadvantages exist, which must be carefully perused before a decision to use the MSAP flap is made. Perhaps not a "workhorse" flap for general use throughout the body, the MSAP flap in general may often be a valuable alternative.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1992

The authors analyzed the clinical results of the reconstructive surgery for injuried hand with microsurgery in 33 patients, 35 cases at the department of orthopaedic surgery, school of medicine, Kyung Hee university from 1985 to 1992 and the results were as followings. 1. There were 31 men and 4 women who had a mean age of 23 years(range, 3 to 44 years) and the follow up evaluations averaged 19 months. 2. The causes of the injury were machinery injury in 25 cases, traffic accident in 2, frostbite in 4, burn in 3 and fall down in 1. 3. For the reconstructive procedure, scapular free flap was applied in 6 cases, radial forearm flap in 7, dorsalis pedis free flap in 4, neurovascular island flap in 6, gracilis free flap in 1, wrap around flap in 6, toe to thumb in 5. 4. 32 cases(91.4%)were successful in reconstructive surgery with microsurgery exept the failure of scapular free flap in 2 cases and dorsalis pedis free flap in 1. 5. The causes of failure in scapular free flap were infection in 1 case and thrombosis in 1. In dorsalis pedis free flap, the cause of failure was infection. In the analysis of above results, the reconstruction with microsurgery was effective procedure for reconstruction of injuried hand.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.38-41
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• 2013

A 31-year-old female patient presented with a skin and soft tissue defect measuring $8{\times}6cm$ in size with exposure of the extensor hallucis longus tendon and the first metatarsal bone after metatarsal lengthening for brachymetatarsia. The defect was covered with a distally based dorsalis pedis flap based on the distal communicating branch of the dorsalis pedis artery. Secondary defect was covered by a split thickness skin graft. There was congestion of the flap tip after the operation; however, it was resolved using medical leeches and anti-coagulants. No necrosis or infection was encountered and the contour of the flap was satisfactory. There was no donor site morbidity. Reverse dorsalis pedis flap has not been commonly used due to the anatomical variation and uncertainty, which is different from the reverse radial forearm flap. However, when faced with the challenge of a moderate soft tissue defect of the distal forefoot, we believe that the reverse dorsalis pedis flap offers a good option with various advantages.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2006

The perforator flaps are based on cutaneous vessels which are originated from a main pedicle and penetrate fascia or muscle to reach the skin. The lateral lower leg is one of the most suitable areas for harvesting perforator flaps because a number of perforator vessels exist. The authors applied peroneal perforator flaps in nine patients. Five flaps were reverse island flaps based on peroneal artery and septocutaneous perforator, and four flaps were free flap based on musculocutaneous perforator only. The recipient site was the posterior ankle in three patients, posterior heel in three patients, lateral malleolus, anterolateral ankle, and foot dorsum in one patient each. The flap size ranged from 5 to 12cm long, from 3 to 5cm wide, and the primary closure of the donor site was possible in most cases. All flaps, except for the flap in two patients in the reverse island flap series, survived completely. The peroneal perforator flap is a very thin, pliable flap with minimal donor site morbidity and is suitable for the reconstruction of small and medium sized superficial skin defects. Also, this flap may be considered as an alternative to radial forearm flap or other perforator flaps.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.324-331
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• 2010

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has become a workhorse flap as a means of reconstructing surgical defects in the head and neck region. We have transferred 12 RFFFs with fasciocutaneous type on oral cavity defects in 12 patients after cancer resection and submucous fibrotic lesion ablation from 2005 to 2007 at Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Pusan National University Hospital. We reviewed retrospectively patients' charts and followed up the patients. Clinical analysis on the cases with RFFFs focusing on flap morbidity, indications and available vessels was done. The results of study are follows: 1. RFFF could be applied for all kind of defects after resection of tongue, floor of mouth, buccal mucosa, denuded bone of palate, maxilla, and mandible. 2. All free flaps could be used for primary reconstruction. The survival rate of 12 RFFFs was 92%. Partial marginal loss of the flaps was shown as 3 cases among 12 cases. Large size-vessels like superior thyroid artery, facial artery, internal jugular vein were favorable for microvascular anastomosis. 3. Parenteral nutrition instead of nasal L-tube also can be favorable for postoperative a week for better healing of the flap if the patients couldn't be tolerable with nasal tubing. 4. Donor sites with thigh skin graft were repaired with wrist band for 2 weeks. The complications included scarring, abnormal sensation on hand, and reduced grip strength in few patients, but those didn't induce major side effects. 5. Most RFFFs were well healed even if mortality rate of cancer patients was shown as 50% (5/10 persons). The mortality of patients was not correlated with morbidity of the flaps. We could identify the usefulness of RFFF for restoration of oral function, esthetics if the flap design, tissue transfer indications, and well controlled operation are proceeded.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

Emergency free flap has been advocated to cover the severely injured extremity for more than two decades, due to its numerous advantages such as low incidence of flap failure and infection rate and early recovery of function. But there are very few reports about these. The authors report their experience in using the emergency free flap for reconstruction of extremities. For last 10 years, 4 patients ranging from 3 to 27 years old with severely traumatized extremities were treated with emergency free flap transfers. Three were males and the other was a female. Flap size ranged from $2{\times}5\;cm^2$ to $7{\times}22\;cm^2$. The locations of the recipient site were the dorsum of the foot, the cubital fossa, the popliteal fossa and the upper arm. The number of the donor sites used was as follows: one scapular flap, two parascapular flaps, and one radial forearm flap with the radial bone. All of the flaps survived without need of re-exploration. There was no infection or flap loss. Involved joints have recovered a normal range of motion. Therefore, we consider that the emergency free flap is a very safe and reliable method to cover the severely injured extremities.